Camera dolly



Feb. 8, 1949. w, HOUSTON 2,461,058

CAMERA DOLLY File zl March 1, 1947 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I.

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.; j'lIII/IIIIII 13% V I //4 \&\\\\\\\\ INVENTOR HERBERT w, Housmn [Tim:2 BY

ATTORNEYS Feb; 8, 1949. H. w. IHOUST-CYJN CAMERA DOLLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed March 1, 1947 Q mm mm 3 on 5 VB mm wk mm mm m mm mm mm mm N mm NEm: mi

INVENTOR HERBERT W. HOUSTON hm mo ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 8, 1949 UNITEDSTATES ATENT OFFICE CAMERA DOLLY Herbert W. Huston,.,Sherman Oaks,Califl, as sign-or to; The'lliouston Corporation, Los An genes, 'Galifi,a corporation of California Application March-1, 1947, Serial No.731,880

(iClaimse (01.248-129) The present invention relates to a camera dolly,

and more particularly to a camera dolly which is.

designed for general motion picture studio, use.

Various types of camera'dollies and cranes have been designed wherein amotion picture cameraman and his camera may be transported horizontallyas well as throughout a limited vertical range for certain phases ofmotion picture photography. Most of such devices, however, arecumbersome, unsteady, and diflicult to transport from one location toanother.- Furthermore, they are limited as to their, maneuverability,particularly when near the ground .or floor level, so that low angleshots frequently are difficultto secure without the use of specialequipment.

An object of'the present invention is tomake an improvedandsimplifie'dmotion picture cam: era dolly.

Another object is to. make an improved trans-v portable camera supportwherein a cameraman and his camera are mounted pivotally on-v a Vtransportable structureso that vertical, horizontal and pivotal'movementof the camera. and cameraman can be easily controlled inconformance withthe usual requirements ofmotion. pic ture. studio use.

Another object is to make an improved camera Another object is to make avertically and horizontally, movable mount for motionpicture camera use,a camera and cameraman being pivotally mounted as a-unit on friction,controlled mechanism operated by the feetof the;camera-- man, seasto-leave his hands free for the operation of his camera.

Another object is to make; an improved pivotal support for a motionpicture camera, wherein pivotal movement is controlled bythe-rcameramanthrough irictionallyactuated adjustable pedals.

These and other objectsof the invention will beset forth more fully, inthefollowing descrip-. tion and the, accompanying drawings, of, whichthere are two sheets. In the drawings: v

Fig, 1 is .a view inside. elevation of a motion picture camera, dollyembodying the-presentinvention, a portionof thelhousing andofaverticallymovable camera mount being .broken; away to disclose structuralfeatures;

Referring to the drawings in detail, a base l0" may be of channel ironframe construction, with].

a pair of front wheels ll, pivoted on .a stationary axle l2, mountedbeneath step plates ltand l4 (see Figs. l and 3) A pair of castoredrrearwheels [5 and Hi are. mounted in pivotal supports 18 andl9 respecetively; which in turn are mounted on the base. v

The castoredrear wheels are connected by lever, and drag linkmechanismof an ordinary type (not illustrated) to a towing and steeringhandle 22; A locking arm 23, connectedjto turn with the rear wheels, ismountedconcentrically with thehandle 22', and is" arranged to slide onanarcuate guide 24, The rear wheels [5, I Qma'y be'locked in adjustedangular position by a clamp screw 25 which is inserted in anopening'in'the' arm'23; and rides in an arcuate slot 2 in the; guide 24A hand rail 28 is mounted-inbrackets-29'and 3U secured'to'the sides ofa'housing 3|;

A pair of vertical channeled guides 32' and 33 are constructed of' pairsof oppositelynisposed .angle irons- 34 and-35, which are secured tomounting plates 36,- 31 as by screws 38 An ele V vating frame supportmember 39 which may b'e of cast metal such as iron or aluminum,hasaplurality of guide roller" support transversely thereon.

Guide rollersM and 42, of *a; size to 'fit'withiirthevertical guidechannels 32, are journaled on the rods 48'. End'guiderollers 43 andflfare'pivoted in bifurcating notches'in the ends-of eachof these rodsto bear on the plates 36 and 31 which form the bottoms of the guidechannels.

A flexible hoisting member lfi such 'as'a' length of" silent chain; issecured to' extend upwardly fronithe top of. the elevating frame support39;

and is: wrapped around and securedtoa winch drumtl. The drum 4'! iskeyed to a shaft 48 I which: is driven, as by -means'of a silent chain49,: from a speed: reducingmechanism 50;, The speed reducing mechanismin' turn is'driven' froma motor El as lb-ymeans of a V'belt 52? Suitablereversing mechanism is provided to permitse--- lectiyely raising; and!lowering. the support. 38. Such: reversing'mechanism may comprisewa re;versinai switch 1 in the-circuit".oi theamotor: 51-! l mmbanicalreversing; mechanism: associated:

rods 49 mounted 3 with the speed reducer 56. Since such reversingdevices are well known, it is considered unnecessary to describe thereversing mechanism in detail.

An elevating frame 53, comprising offset tubular top members 54 and 55and horizontal tubular bottom-members 57 are mounted to extend laterallyfrom the elevatin: frame support 39. The tubular top frame members 44and 45 are connected to their respective low-er members 57 by weldingupright bracing tubes 58 and 59 therebetween to provide a pair of strongtrussed side members. The side frame members thus formed then aresecured to each other by welding horizontal bracing tubes 60 betweenthem (see Fig. 3). The outer ends of the tubular side frame members 54,55 and 51 are inserted in socketed openings in a pivot post supportmember 6| (see Figs. 1 and 4) A vertical pivot post 62 is inserted in anopen ing in the upper end of the pivot post support member 6|. The pivotpost is secured in anchored position in the member 6| as by means of atransverse pin 63.

An elongated housing 55 comprises top and bottom plates 64 and 65 with acast metal side enclosure 67 which is continuous around the marginaledges of the top and bottom plates.

Inwardly projecting flanges 66 are provided adjacent the top and bottomedges; of the side enclosure to position the top and bottom plates 64and 65 flush with the upper and lower edges of the side enclosure. Aflanged bearing cup 68,

secured within an opening in the bottom plate M 65 by means ,of screws69, provides a recessed seat for a ball thrust bearing Ill. The innerrace of the bearing 10 fits closely on the pivot post 62..

A dust cover II of suitable material is secured to the lower platebeneath the ball bearing 10 i by the same screws 69 which mount thebearing cup 68.

Anupper bearing cup I2 is mounted around anopening in the upper plate54, and is secured to the upper plate by screws 73. A ball bearing H ismounted in this upper cup 12, the inner race of the upper bearing beingfitted to a reduced portion of the pivot post 62.

-A sprocket '15 of the silent chain type is keyed to the pivot postto'seat against a shoulder 11 between the lower portion and a reducedintermediate portion of the pivot post.

A lower friction disc 13 has a downwardly projecting central stud I9which is adapted to fit closely in a recess in the upper end of pivotpost 62. The lower friction disc is secured to the pivot post by screws80. A facing of suitable has bearing on the sleeve 99.

domed housing member is of a size to enclose the friction discs 18 and82, and is secured to the upper plate 64 of the housing as by screws 88.A domed operating dial 89 for the upper friction disc 82 has a hubportion 95 which is keyed to the reduced upper end of the threaded shaftportion 84. The dial 89 is spaced upwardly from, and is curvedsubstantially concentrically with, the domed housing member 81. Aretaining nut 9| is threaded onto the upper end of the threaded shaftportion 84.

A metal plate 95 is secured beneath the top plate 64 at the other end ofthe elongated housing 56 from the pivot post 62. A downwardly extendingstud 91 is secured centrally of the plate 95 by a through pin 98. 'Ahearing sleeve 99 is mounted on the stud 91. A sprocket tilt, of thesilent chain type, which is considerably larger than the sprocket l5keyed to the pivot post 62, This sprocket is supported by, and hasendwise splined connection with, a bevel gear (9| which also isjournaled on the bearing sleeve 99. The bearing sleeve 99 and the bevelgear [III are retained in position i! on the stud 9'! by a retaining nutI52.

103 inwardly of the pinion III, the collar riding against the inner endof the bearing sleeve I05 and bearing bracket I08.

A flanged collar H4 is keyed to the shaft 193 t and has inner endsupport against an ofiset shoulder formed between two portions of theshaft I93 having different diameters.

Two pedal assemblies are provided, but since they are similar to eachother, one only will be described. A pedal H5 is pivoted on the shaft103; its hub having a planiform inner face I adapted to have frictionalengagement with the friction material, such for example as is used forclutch facings, is secured to the upper face of the disc 18.

A similar but reversely positioned upper friction disc 82 is mounteddirectly over the lower friction disc 78. This upper friction disc alsomay have a, facing of suitable frictional material.

flanged collar I I4. The pedal is slidably mounted on the shaft I03 andis held in frictional engagement with the flanged collar H4 by a coilcompression spring III which is secured in position by a largedome-headed screw I I8.

A domed casing H9 is mounted beneath the housing 56 to enclose the bevelgear and pinion mechanism for transmitting pedal motion to the ear.

An idler take-up sprocket I25 is mounted on a post I2I secured to thehousing bottom plate 'A pair of seat supporting, socketed brackets I24and I25 are secured to the rear of the casing 55 and a u shaped seatsupport member I29 which may be of strong tubular material, has the twoends thereof inserted in sockets in these brackets. A seat I2! ismounted to slide longitudinally of the sides of the U-shaped support,

the seat being provided with a clamp screw i28 for clampingit inadjusted position.

In operating the device, a camera with .suitable accessories is mountedon the supporting acetone 12 2; and thew" cameramanseatshimself I inthe-seat"v I21 and adjusts: it longitudinallyofziits: The: seat then:-is-clampedin;adjusted positiom and one or moresupport tor suit his:preference;

studio employe es 'arestation'ed zb ehind the device: Thercontrols forelevating and loweringthe frame. 53 pref'erably are located; so i thataastudior employee other:- than the camera-man may operate them;

If the: dollyv is to be- Wheeleds. on a. predetermined straightuorcunved path-,- thevsteeringzhandlel ZZT-is' adjusted in: thedesired'iiposition and is securediiirr place; bymeansr oi the clampscrew 25. Thereafter, by :simply pushing-"the'dolly forwardly: orrearwardly' the wheels: will" follow the: required straight or curved:path determined; by

one direction, through the differential drive.-pro-- vided by the bevelgears, causes a reverse rotative movemenirofthe otherpedal; For-thisreason itisdesirable to permit .the cameraman to adjust" the relativepositions; of. the pedals: by overcoming; the frictional engagementbetween theapedalsand the flangedcollars H4.

When it is desired to1secure-the camera: in adjusted position, the domeddial 89 ;m*ayj be rotated to screw the upper friction disc 82 downwardlyinto a desired degree of frictional engagement with the relatively fixedlower friction disc 18. By rotating the control dial 89, frictionalengagement between the upper and lower discs 82 and 18 may be balancedagainst the frictional resistance between the pedals and their flangedcollars 4', that the cameraman is able effectively to control theslightest desired manipulation of the camera.

The cameraman may pivot the entire housing 56, including his own seat,as a unit, to a desired angle horizontally. After reaching the desiredposition and securing the housingin such adjusted position, he is able,by pressing the pedals, to overcome the frictional resistance betweenthe pedals and their flanged collars H4, and thus move the pedals to adesired position for his own comfort. This also assists him in holdingthe camera steady in an adjusted position, and to return the camera toapproximately the previous adjusted position after pivotally moving thehousing from such position.

The entire unit of cameraman and camera can be adjusted vertically byoperation of the controls by the studio employee who is assigned tomanipulate the dolly.

The device comprises a simple, steady, highly flexible and sturdy camerasupport, capable of use for most types of studio use, and adapted forlow angle work without the use'of special equipment which woulddiminish'its usefulness.

I claim:

1. A motion picture camera dolly comprising a base, pivoted camera andcameraman support means pivotally mounted on the forward end of saidbase, controlled brake means operatively mounted between said pivotedsupportmeans and said base, differential drive means mounted to operatebetween the pivoted support r'r'ieans and said base, a pair of pedalspivotally connected to said differential drive means, and resilientlyactuated friction drive means interconnecting said pedals in drivingrelation to said diiferential means; for controlledpivotal movementofxsa-id' pivoted support" meanson an: actuation of saidi pedals.

2; A motion picture camera dolly comprising a base, pivoted. camera andcameraman support" means :pivotally mounted onthe forward end of: saidbase, controlled brake means operatively mounted between said pivotedsupport meansand.

said base, differential drivev means. mounted to.

operate between the pivoted support means and said: base forzcontrolledpivotal movement of said pivoted: support. means, said differentialdrivev means oomprising' a pair of oppositely rotatable: shaftsincorporated-'1 therein, a collar having a.

friction: facerthereon secured to each of. said shafts; apedalirotatably mounted on each shaft and i-iaving a hub portion with afriction face thereon positioned oppositely to and insubstantial'registry-with thefriction face on said collar,

and 'Imeans. resiliently urging the registering: friction faces-of saidcollars and said pedal hubsinto predetermined frictional drivingengagement with each other.

3; motion picture camera dolly comprising a transportable base,aevertical guideway mount ed-onsaid base, a camera support frame mountedfor=vertical movement in said guideway, hoisting mechanism operativelyconnected to said camera support frame, reversible, adjustable speed,drive mechanism connectedtto operate said hois ing mechanism, anelongated camera and camera-man support member pivotally mounted on apivot post fixedly secured to said camera support frame, a camerasupport mounted on one end. of said elongated support member, acameramansseat adjustably mounted on the other end ofsaid elongatedsupport member, a first friction disc fiiiedly mounted on said pivotpost, a second disc mounted in axially opposed separated positlon fromsaid first disc, at least one of said discs being mounted for axialnon-rotative movement, controlled actuating means mounted to move saiddiscs into frictional braking engagement with each other, foot pedalmeans mounted in position to receive and support the feet of a cameramansupported on said elongated support member, and motion transmittingmeans operatively connected between said pedals and a frame element torotate said elongated support member relatively to said camera supportframe on an actuation of said pedal means.

4. A motion picture camera dolly comprising a transportable base, avertical guideway mounted on said base, a camera support frame mountedfor vertical movement in said guideway, reversible, adjustable speed,drive mechanism connected to operate said camera support frame, anelongated housing pivotally mounted on a pivot post fixedly secured tosaid camera support frame, a first circular torque transmitting memberfixedly secured to said pivot post co-axially therewith, a camerasupport mounted on one end of said elongated housing, a cameramans seatmounted on the other end of said housing, a second circular torquetransmitting member mounted r0- tatably in said housing, torquetransmitting means operatively interconnecting the first and secondtorque transmitting circular members, a first friction disc mounted onsaid pivot. post, a second friction disc mounted in axially opposedseparated position from said first disc, both of said discs beingsubstantially non-rotative relatively to said housing, and at least oneof said discs being mounted for axial movement, condiscs into frictionalbraking engagement with each other, foot pedal means mounted in positionto receive and support the feet of a cameraman on said seat; and motiontransmitting means operatively connected between said pedals and saidrotatable torque transmitting member to rotate said elongated housingmember on an actuation of said pedal means.

5. A motion picture camera dolly comprising a transportable base, acamera support frame mounted for vertical movement on said base,reversible, adjustable speed, drive mechanism connected to operate saidcamera support frame, an elongated camera and cameraman support housingpivotally mounted on said camera support frame, a first circular torquetransmitting member fixedly secured relatively to said camera supportframe, a second circular torque transmitting member mounted rotatably insaid housing, torque transmitting means operatively interconnecting thefirst and second torque transmitting circular members, foot pedal meansoperatively mounted on said housing, and motion transmitting meansoperatively connected between said pedals and said second circulartorque transmitting member to rotate said elongated housing on anactuation of said pedal means.

6. A motion picture camera dolly comprising a transportable base; acamera support 'frarnev mounted on the base, camera and cameramansupport means pivoted on the forward end'of said camera support frame, acamera support mounted adjacent one end of said pivoted support means, acamcramans seat mounted adjacent the other end of said pivoted supportmeans, a pair of foot pedals rotatably mounted in position to receiveand support the feet of a cameraman seated in said seat, diiferentialmotion transmitting means operatively mounted to rotate said frame on anactuation thereof, and frictionaldrive meansinterconnecting said footpedals and said dilferential motion transmitting means, the degree offrictional interconnection being less than the normal foot power of anoperator available to overcome said frictional interconnection.

HERBERT W. HOUSTON.

REFERENCES crrnn The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

